Impregnation of wooden poles



, April 28, 1959 J. SOMMER IMPREGNATION 0F WOODEN POLES Filed July 1.1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvmswrop JOHANNES SOMMER ATTORN EYS April 28, 1959SQ MER- 2,884,302

I IMPREGNATION OF WOODEN POLES Filed July 1. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,wrz-wm? JOHANNES SOMMER ATTORNEYS uniedswcs P m This invention relatesto improvements in the impregnation of wooden poles. The invention moreparticularly relates to the impregnation of wooden poles such as poleswhich support electric power lines, telephones, and the like, in orderto keep the same in repair.

The impregnation of wooden poles for overhead elec- I tric power linesor the like before their use in order to protect the same against rot isknown. It is also known to reimpregnate these wooden poles afterfacertain period of use in order to maintain the same in repair. Thismaintenance reimpregnation is particularly difiicult on thehigh or upperportions of the pole, as, for example, at the pole top and upper endsurface, inasmuch as these places are not readily accessible.

In the known processes for the maintenance, of the wooden poles, thepoles had to be climbed for the reimpregnation of the upper parts. Forthis purpose the high voltage current had to be shut off in order toavoid accidents. The shutting off. of the current was highlydisadvantageous and involved, interruptions of the current supply, etc.1 3

, In accordance with one known method for the maintenance of woodenpoles, nails were driven into the top surface of the poles with theirheads protruding. The 'end surface of the pole was then covered with animpregnatingpaste, which was maintained in place by the pro- Inaccordance with another known method, an end The upper end of the poleadditionmembercontaining the impregnation agent was nailed on the top ofthe pole. I Y

, These known methods, however,were too cumbersome and expensive to bepractical. 1 I I It has also been proposed to pipe liquid-impregnatingagents to the top surface of the pole or-against someother highsurfaceof the pole from the grounds by means of a pressure conduitconnected ,with .a liquid container. This proposal eliminates the,necessity .of climbing the pole. It has,however, been-found that itmaybe necessary to also. apply non-liquid wood-impregnating agents whichmay not be etfected. with the liquid conduits.

One object of this invention is the application of woodirnpregnationagents .to the upper end portions. of wooden poles without theabove-mentioned disadvantages. This, I

andfstill .further objects will become apparent from the followingdescription read in conjunction with thedrawings, in which; I v

.Fig l is aperspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus inaccordance with the invention showing the same ust prior to theapplication of impregnation agent toja flat top surf-ace of a pole; fFig. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in. Fig. 1,showingthe same applying the impregnation agent to the ,top ofa woodenpole having a wedge-shaped or gable-shaped top surface;

.H-Patented Apr. 28, 1959 Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of anembodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for applyingthe impregnation agent to a pole having a conically-shaped top surface;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section of the embodiment shown in Fig. 3and positioned over the pole top;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 positionedon the pole top; 1

Fig. 7 is a partial vertical section of a furtherembodiment of anapparatus in accordance with the invention; and t Fig. 8 is a sideelevation partially in section showing the impregnation agent as appliedto the pole top with the device of Fig. 7.

In accordance withthe invention, a pliant layer provided with thewood-impregnating agent is stuck to the upper portion of the pole, as,for example, the pole top by means of an elongated handle arrangement.

The pliant layer may, for example, consist of jute fabric, absorbentpaper or the like, and preferably 'of crepe filter paper. The lowersurface of the pliant layer is preferably provided with pastewood-impregnating agent to allow the adhesion of the same to the woodenpole. The pliant layer is preferably applied with an apparatus having anelongated handle with a reverse bend at its upper end. A hood or caparrangement is provided at the end of the reverse bend, to which thepliant layer may. be attached. The attachment of the pliant layer to thehood arrangement is effected with an adhesive force which is less thanthe adhesive force which will be efiected between the pliant layer andthe pole when the pliant layer is pressed against the pole. This, forexample, may be efiected by sticking the pliant layer to the hood with asmallersurface area of the same wood-impregnating paste which is used toadhere. the layer to the pole.

In this manner it is possible to apply non-liquid Woodimpregnatingagents as, for example, wood-impregnation agents in the form of paste orcoated powder to the upper end surfaces of poles or other elevatedouter-pole surfaces with particular ease and speed without the necessityof the cumbersome climbing of the pole and the dangers inherenttherewith. The previous cumbersome nailing arrangement is alsocompletely eliminated in accordance with the invention and theadditional expense of nails, protectivesleeves, etc., is avoided.

Referring to the drawing, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 has an elongatedhandle 2 in the form of a pole, such as a hollow pole or the like, witha reverse bend at its upper end terminating at 3. A hood or caparrangement is connected'to the end 3 through a ball and socket jointarrangement 40 or any other conventional universal joint. The ball joint40 is directly connected to the end 3 by means of a sleeve and removablepin 41, which allows the same to be detached. The hood or cap arrange:-ment consists of two semicircular plates 7 and 8 hinged together at thehinged joint 9. The plates define a lower adherence surface 43. The axisof the hinged joint 9a-b bisects the circular disc 4 by the two halves."The two halves 7 and 8 are connected to a cross-bar lfiattached to theball and socket joint 40 by means of vertical connecting rods Hand 18and pivot joints 19 and 20, respectively. The rods 17 and 18 extendthrough the coil springs 21 and 22. The rods 17 and 18 may slideupwardly through the cross-plate 16 and the downward movement is limitedby the nuts 23, 24, respectively. p

The parts of the hinge 10 and llwhich are connected to the .hinge pinhave attached thereto the guide 1'0ds12 and 13 which slidably extendthrough holes in the cross-' bar16. Springs'14'and IS-resiliently urgethe plate away from the-cross-bar.

By limiting nuts 23 and 24, the hinged parts 7 and 8 are held at such adistance from the guide parts 16 that their lower surface is always in afiat plane when the plate is' not placed upon such beveled pole endsurfaces that their hinged parts 7 and 8 adapted themselves to thebeveled pole end surfaces. If the plate shown in Fig. 1 with the hingedparts 7 and 8 is lowered in the direction indicated by the arrows ontothe flat top surface 4 of the wooden pole 5, the coil springs 14, 15,21, and 22 are compressed so that the setting on of the plate with thehinged parts 7 and 8 onto the top surface 4 of the pole always takesplace in an elastic manner. If, on the other" hand, the hinged parts 7and 8 of the plate are lowered onto a gable-shaped top surface of apole, as shown in Fig. 2, the hinged parts 7 and 8 adapt themselves tothe beveled top surfaces 25 and 26 of the pole 27. This placing on ofthe plate with the hinged parts must, however, take place in such amanner that the axis -a-b of the hinge joint coincides with theuppermost ridge edge of the gable-shaped pole top surface. When theinstrument is placed on such a pole top surface, the coil springs 14,15, 21, and 22 are not only compressed in such a manner that theplacingon of the plate with its hinged parts 7 and 8 takes place in an elasticmanner, but the coil springs 14 and 15 are compressed, the guide pins 12and 13 move upwards and the coil springs 21 and 22 force the hingedparts 7 and 8 downward, as can *be noted from Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 3-6, which is used for conical pole tops,has the curved hinged sectors 28, 29, 30, and 31. These hinge parts havesuch a curvature that they approximately fit comically-shaped pole tops.On each of the hinged parts 28, 29, 30, and 31, there is a camprojection 32. In the horizontal position of the hinge parts 28, 29, and31, a cap 33 is placed over these cam projections so that these hingeparts are held by thecap 33 in their horizontal position. The cap 33 hasadownWard-directed feeler 34, which, upon being placed on Lhe tip 35 ofthe pole, releases the hinge parts 28, 29, 30, and 31, which are underthe action of springs 36 in such a manner that these parts swingdownward against the top 37 of the pole. In Fig. 5 of the drawing, thecap 33 and the feeler 34 'are shown in their raised position which isassumed when the'instrument has been placed on the conical top of thepole 38. The cap 33 is preferably fastened by a holding member, forexample, by a thin piece of wire '39, to the rod of the apparatus, sothat it is not lost.

-The handle 2,"which is to be moved upward, and possibly also theinstrument containing the wood-impregnating agent, can be insulatedagainst electric current. In the event that the instrument holding thewood-impregnating agent consists of electrically conductive material,the outer surfaces of this instrument can also be insulated in theconventional manner. The coil springs 14, 15, 21 and 22 can besurrounded with rubber tubes so that these springs are not retarded withrespect to their movement and are insulated on all sides from electriccurrent.

The handle 2 can consist of collapsible and connectible parts, for"example, be developed in such a manner that the handle or the rod 2consists of parts which can be detachably connected with each other bymeans of sleeves known per se. However, it is also possible to form therod of parts which can be inserted in one another or which can beconnected with one another so as to obtain the length of the handledesired in each case.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, the rod which is shown above the line C-D inFig. 6 has been omitted in order that the parts located below same canbe more readily recognized in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawing, the wood-impregnating agent 6 shown inFig. 3, together with the piece of paper 42 lying over it, are notshown, so that other parts can be more readily noted. I

When carrying out the method and when using paste wood-impregnatingagent, a flexible layer of, for example, jute fabric, absorptive paper,or the like, and preferably a crepe filter paper of suitable size isadvantageously coated at various spots on one side withwood-impregnating paste. The piece of paper 42, coated in this manner,is then applied against the lower adherence surface 43 of the apparatus,for example, below the lower surfaces 43 of the hinge parts 7 and 8 ofFig. 1, so that the piece of paper 42 adheres firmly to the same. Theinstrument can, in this connection, be so turned that the lower surface43 of'the hinge parts 7 and 8 lies towards the top, as, for example, bybeing detached from the rod 2 or the handle 2 after the pin 41 has beenremoved. Thereupon the piece of paper 42, which is held to the adherencesurface 43 of the apparatus by the spotwise applied impregnation paste,is then provided with the paste wood-impregnating agent 6 suitable forthe impregnating process in question, as, for example, with about 250grams of such a wood-impregnating agent. The instrument is then againconnected with the handle 2 and with the aid of the handle, theinstrument, together with the downward-directed paste covering 6, islowered onto the top 4 of the pole or onto some other high outer surfaceof the pole. Since the quantity of paste 6 of about 250 grams applied inthis manner exerts a greater sticking action on the top 4 of. the pole,than the smaller quantity of paste applied at individual spots betweenthe piece of paper 42 and the lower surfaces 43 of the hinge parts 7 and8, the instrument can be lifted from the top of the pole readily bymeans of handle 2, so that the wood-impregnating agent 6 remains stuckto the pole together with the piece of paper 42. The piece of paper 42then covers the top of the paste coating 6.

In the same way'conical pole tops can 'beprovided with the pastewood-impregnating agent in accordance with Figs. 3, 5, and 6. Whencarrying out the process and using covered wood-impregnating agent, thesurface of the covering can be coated at diiferent spots withwoodimpregnating paste, and the covering, together with its content, isthen forced simply from below against the adherence surfaces 43 of theapparatus, so that the covering remains adhereing to the same. Paste isthen applied to the lower surface of the covering, the quantity of thepaste being such that this wood-impregnating paste holds the coveringand its content firmly to the top of the pole when the apparatus islifted off.

Crepe filter paper is preferable as the material forming the pliablelayer, since it readily permits the passage of rain .water therethroughwhile the crepe surface holds back the rain water and allows the same totrickle down slowly with sufiicient time to act on the wood-impregnatingagent so as to detach it. Furthermore, a crepe filter paper isrelatively inexpensive. I

It is advisable, when using covered powered woodimpregnating agents, tocarry out the method in accordance with the invention in such a mannerthat the surface of the covering containing the wood-impregnating agentconsisting, for example, of crepe filter paper, is bonded by awood-impregnating paste preferably at different spots, to the lowersurface or surfaces of the hood or disc of the apparatus used for theapplication while the other lower surface of the covering is providedwith a paste wood-impregnating agent which is applied by means of thedevice directly to the end surface of the poles or the other high outerpole surfaces. The quantity of this latter portion of the pastewood-impregnating agent should be such that the same will remain stuckto the wood with the covering containing the wood-impregnating powderand detach from the apparatus used for the application.

In this manner it is possible to suitably apply powder and salinewood-impregnating agents in addition to wood- 'impregnating paste totheupper surfaces-of the wooden impregnating agents have propertieswhich are of special advantage and which may differ'from those of thewoodimpregnating agents bonded with the paste. Furthermore,wood-impregnating agents or wood-impregnating salts may be introducedinto the coverings which are applied with the paste in quantitiesreadily adapted to the impregnation process in question, as, forexample, by means of known filling machines having connected weigh ingdevices. Such covered impregnating agents are par ticularly advantageousfrom a standpoint of shipment and in connection with use before theimpregnation process.

Analogously, the method can be carried out with the use of the apparatusalso when using molded bodies with wood-impregnating agents.

In this way the possibility is afiorded of imparting thewood-impregnating agent a shape and dimension suitable for theimpregnating process even without covering. For gable-shaped endsurfaces, the molded product can be so developed that it is flexible ona central line. This flexibility can be achieved, for example, in themanner that the molded article is made flexible on one side for example,by a layer of jute or paper, so that it fits closely upon being applied,to a beveled end, surface of a pole. In the same way the molded body canalso be so shaped that it adapts itself to conical pole end surfaces, itbeing made flexible along several central lines.

In accordance with the invention, the apparatus for carrying out themethod has been further developed in the manner that the instrumentarranged on the end of the rod 2 for holding the impregnating agentconsists of a holder, preferably a hood, on which an elastic cushion,for example, of foam rubber, is so arranged that it rests snuglyagainst-a free pole top or some other high outer consists, for example,of foam rubber, adapts itself in a particularly advantageous manner tothese surfaces.

By such an embodiment of the apparatus, the ability of the cushion toadapt itself, particularly when placed on conical or gable-shaped poletops, is favored.

In Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 of the drawing there is shown diagrammatically oneembodiment of this device in accordance with the invention.

The device shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing has a rod 2, on the upwardextending end 3 of which an instrument holding the wood-impregnatingagent 6 over the top 37 of the wooden pole 38 is arranged.

This instrument consists of a hood 44 on which there is arranged anelastic cushion, for example, of foam rubber, which consists of severalelastic discs 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49. The elastic disc 46 is provided atits center with a recess 50 and the elastic disc 48 is provided at itscenter with a recess 51, the recess 50 being smaller than the recess 51.

The elastic discs 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49 of the cushion are surroundedby a pliant covering 52, which consists, for example, of soft leather,so that these elastic discs to 49 are thereby held together so as toform a closed cushion. This covering 52 is held together at one end in adetachable manner, for example, by a string 53, so that, after theremoval of the string 53, the elastic discs 45 to 49 can be removed fromthe covering 52 for cleaning, replacement, etc. The covering 52 can besurrounded by a sleeve 54 of flexible rubber. This sleeve 6 54 in thisconnection rests against the inner surface of the hood 44.

The hood 44 has a coupling 55, which serves to produce a connection,preferably a detachable connection of the hood 44 with the end 3 of therod 2, for example, by a suitable thread, so that the hood 44 can bescrewed ofi.

By means of this device shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing, the method canbe carried out in a particularly advantageous manner. When carrying outthe method and using paste wood-impregnating agent, the crepe filterpaper 56 of suitable size is preferably coated at individual spots onone side with wood-impregnating paste. The thus coated piece of paper 56is then pressed against the lower adherence surface 57 at the lowersurface of the covering 52 of the cushion, so that the piece of paper 56adheres firmly here.

The apparatus, in this connection, can assume such a position that theadherence surface 57, and thus also the rod 2, are directed upwards.However, the hood 44*can also be unscrewed from the end 3 of rod 2 andthe hood 44, together with the cushion, then brought by itself into sucha position that the adherence surface 57 faces upward. Thereupon, thepiece of paper 56, which is held to the adherence surface 57 of thecushion by the woodimpregnating paste which has been applied at variousspots, is provided at its other side with the paste woodirnpregnatingagent 6 sufiicient for the impregnating proc ess in question, as, forexample, with about 250 grams of such a wood-impregnating agent. Theinstrument is then lowered by means of the rod 2 serving as handle, withthe paste covering 6 facing downward onto the end surface 37 of the poleor someother high outer surface of the pole. Since the quantity of paste6 of about 250 grams, which is applied, has a greater adhering action tothe top 37 of the paste than the smaller quantity of paste applied inindividual spots present between the piece of paper 56 and the loweradherence surface 57 of the cushion, the instrument can be readilyremoved upwards by means of the handle 2, so that the wood-impregnatingagent 6, jointly with the piece of paper 56, remains adhering to the top37 of the pole. The piece of paper 56 then covers the paste coat 6 fromthe top, as can be noted in Fig. 8 of the drawing. I p

In the same way, gable-shaped or flattops of poles can also be providedwith the paste wood-impregnating agent 6.

In carrying out the method, and when using covered paste impregnatingagents, the surface of the covering can be coated at various spots. withwood-impregnating paste and the covering and its contents then simplypressed against the lower adherence surface 57 of the cushion, so thatthe covering remains adhering to same. To the lower surface of thecovering there is then applied paste in such a quantity that thiswood-impregnating paste firmly holds the covering and its contents tothe top of the t pole when the instrument is lifted off.

The method can be carried out analogously by means of the apparatus alsowhen using moldings with woodimpregnated agents.

When the hood 44 is lowered with the cushion onto the free top 37 of thepole, the cushion adjusts itself elastically to this top surface of thepole. By means of the recesses 50 and 51 in the elastic discs 46 and 48,respectively, the ability of the cushion to accommodate itself isfavored, and a bead-like accumulation 58 of the pasteimpregnating agent6 is formed on the top of the pole, so that the necessary quantity ofimpregnating agent is also present on the top of the pole.

I claim:

1. Method for impregnating the upper exposed end of an upright woodenservice pole normally requiring climbing to reach the upper portionthereof, which comprises elevating a layer of pliant material having asurface coated with wood-impregnating agent paste fromsubstantiallyground level to above the top ofsaid pole by means of anelongated handle, positioning said coated-surface in .contact with thetop surface of said pole by means of said handle to therebycausesticking of the coated surface .andsaid layer of pliant material tothe pole top, and withdrawing the handle, leaving the impregnating agentpaste together with the layer of pliant material covering the same,stuck to the pole top.

2. Method according to claim 1 in which said layerof pliant material isa covering of pliant material containing wood-impregnating agent.

3. Method according to claim 1 in which said layer of pliant materialhas a shape dimensioned to fit the pole top.

4. Method according to claim 1, in which said layer of pliant materialis attached to said elongated handle for said elevating and positioningby sticking the same to a surface connected to the handle at individualspots with wood-impregnating agent paste.

- 5. Method according to claim 4 in which said layer of pliant materialis a layer of crepe filter paper.

6. Apparatus for impregnating the exposed upper end of an upright woodenservice pole normally requiring climbing to reach theupper portionthereof, comprising an elongated handle of sufiicient length to reachthe pole top from ground level, a reverse bend at one end of saidhandle, a member at the reverse bent end of said handle defining a lowersurface adapted to mate with the top of the service pole and removablyhold a layer of pliant material having a surface thereof coated with theWoodimpregnating agent paste.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said memher is attached tosaid handle through a universal joint.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said member comprisesanelastic deformable pad defining said surface and connected to thereverse bent end of said handle with said surface extendingsubstantially normal to said handle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said member comprises asubstantially flat disc defining said surface, said disc being dividedinto two halves by a hinge joint allowing the disc halves to be foldedtoward each other.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including at least one rod memberconnected to said hinge joint and at least one rod member connected toeach disc half, said rod members extending substantially normal to theplane of said discs, a holder connecting said rod members to .saidhandle, said rod member connected to said hinge joint beingslidablymounted with respect to said holder and including spring meansresiliently biasing said disc halves to their open unfolded position. aa

11. Apparatus according to claim 6, in which said member comprises amultiple number of-wedge-shaped plates pivotably connected to andradially extending from a central member.

12. A apparatus according to claim 11 including spring means resilientlyurging said wedge-shaped plates to pivot downwardly toward each other,and releasable catch means releasably holding said plates in asubstantially flat plane.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said releasable catch meansincludes a centrally-positioned finger member extending downwardly pastsaid central member and adapted to release said wedge-shaped plates forpivoting downwardly toward each other upon the up ward movement of saidfinger member with respect to said central member.

14. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said member comprises a hoodconnected to the reverse bent head of said handle and including a bodyof elastic deformable material positioned in said hood, said body havinga lower substantially fiat surface extending substantially normally tosaid handle.

.15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which said References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quarles Nov. 20, 1934Miller Dec. 30, 1941 Johnson Aug. 22, 1950

1. METHOD FOR IMPREGNATING THE UPPER EXPOSED END OF AN UPRIGHT WOODENSERVICE POLE NORMALLY REQUIRING CLIMBING TO REACH THE UPPER PORTIONTHEREOF, WHICH CONPRISES ELIVATING A LAYER OF PLAINT MATERIAL HAVING ASURFACE COATED WITH WOOD INPREGNATING AGENT PASTE FROM SUBSTANTIALLYGROUND LEVEL TO ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID POLE BY MEANS OF AN ELONGATEDHANDLE, PISITIONING SAID COATED SURFACE IN CONTACT WITH THE TOP SURFACEOF SAID POLE BY MEANS OF SAID HANDLE TO THEREBY CAUSE STICKING OF THECOATED SURFACE AND SAID LAYER OF PLIANT MATERIAL TO THE POLE TOP, ANDWITHDRAWING THE HANDLE, LEAVING THE IMPREGNATING AGENT PASTE TOGETHERWITH THE LAYER OF PLAINT MATERIAL COVERING THE SAME, STUCK TO THE POLETOP.
 6. APPARATUS FOR INPREGNATING THE EXPOSED UPPER END OF AN UPRIGHTWOODEN SERVICE POLE NORMALLY REQUIRING CLIMBING TO REACH THE UPPERPORTION THEREOF, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HANDLE OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TOREACH THE POLE TOP FROM GROUND LEVEL, A REVERSE BEND AT ONE END OF SAIDHANDLE, A MEMBER AT THE REVERSE BENT END OF SAID HANDLE DEFINING A LOWERSURFACE ADAPTED TO MATE WITH THE TOP OF THE SERVICE POLE AND REMOVABLYHOLD A LAYER OF PLIANT MATERIAL HAVING A SURFACE THEREOF COATED WITH THEWOODIMPREGNATING AGENT PASTE.